Michael Budkie writes:   

Re Ringling to move all elephants from the circus ring into cancer research by May 2016,  Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus may be violating federal law by providing research material to the University of Utah from its soon-to-be retired elephants.

Public records disclose that Feld Entertainment,  the owner of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus,  paid a $270,000 fine to the government after inspections from 2007 to 2011 revealed violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Feld’s new problem is that while it is an animal exhibitor,  it is not a federally licensed animal dealer,  according to public records.  And doing any research-related activity without having the proper permit for it violates the law.

SAEN cofounders Michael & Karen Budkie. (SAEN photo)

In a letter to the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, SAEN has asked the agency to “investigate this matter and determine whether Feld Entertainment, while providing elephant blood samples to University of Utah,  has been operating as an unlicensed animal dealer in serious violation of the Animal Welfare Act.  If your office finds that this facility is indeed violating the AWA,  we must insist that you levy the maximum penalty allowable under the law, $10,000 per infraction.”

––Michael Budkie

Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN)

513-703-9865

saen@cinci.rr.com